5 Ways I’m Adjusting From Summer To Back To School

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With the beginning of a new school year and the summer coming to a close, it is time for me to get back into a routine.  I love summer with it’s carefree attitude but I really do function better (and am a much better homemaker) when I  have a routine (even if it is a loose one!)  Part of my job of being an at home mom and wife is trying to help save money where I can and also to be there for my family.  Here are 5 ways that I will be readjusting to the school calendar and the end of summer:

• Get back to a cleaning routine using my Motivated Mom’s planner.  

Several years ago (back when I was still working outside the home) I found this handy chore planner.  Back then it was only available in the printable form but now they also have it as a downloadable app!  Being that I am still a paper and pen kind of girl, I have mine as a printable.  I have found the Motivated Mom’s planner to be helpful because each day has a small list of chores to complete.  (Today’s list for example is to: inventory your fridge and meal plan, change hand towels, clean toilets, refill toilet paper in the bathrooms, and vacuum the main floor where guests would see.)  When I stay on task with this list, my house has stayed pretty tidy and I didn’t have to spend a ton of time each day working at cleaning or making a mad dash to clean when someone else is coming over.  I also have used Flylady and also been fairly successful but I know many who find the amount of emails they send to be overwhelming.

• Get back to saving money on groceries using Ibotta, Checkout 51, Shopkick, Target Cartwheel, and clipping Target’s coupons.

  This weekend I needed milk, eggs, and bananas.  All of these were on either Ibotta or  Checkout 51‘s cash back list.  When I was looking in Target I found that Scrubbing Bubbles was on sale. I had 2 coupons, and I scored 2 Checkout 51 cash backs making them $.31 a piece!  Couponing, using Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Cartwheel is not hard, but it does take a little discipline to get deals that cheap.  I’d like to budget 60 minutes each week working on saving money this way!  I saved $27.82 at Target that trip which made my 20 minutes of clipping, adding offers, and printing well worth it.  There have also been several times that I’ve ran in to get groceries and looked at Ibotta or Checkout 51 after I got home and realized I bought something on the list and uploaded my receipt and got cash back.  Simple and easy.  I love it!  (Don’t forget to get your kicks from Shopkick when you walk in the store!)  (If you are shopping online, don’t forget to use Ebates to earn cash back!)

• Blogging consistently.  

  I love to blog.  I have always loved to write, it’s in my blood.  Maybe it’s because I’m introverted, maybe it’s because I don’t think I’m very creative when it comes to other forms of art…I don’t know.  It is just something that is built in me.  Sometimes I am not sure which direction I’m going with this blog because it’s so broad by intentionally helping women so I’m sorry if I throw around numerous different topics and get away from others that you like more.  (I’m always up for suggestions for different posts and hope that you all continue to enjoy reading whatever comes out as I sit behind my screen!)  I’m going to start a 31 day blogging challenge very shortly that I found on Pinterest but I’m mixing it up some to include topics that I hope you will find more relevant.

• Get back to my morning routine!  

  I usually do my best work in the early morning before Jason’s up for the day and it’s even better if I can wake up before the kids.  That doesn’t always work out because my kids are EARLY risers.  My morning routine has always consisted of unloading the dishwasher and switching around the laundry which really helps keeping those two areas of my life in order. I also want to incorporate my new habit of reading my Bible for 15 minutes into this time to get me going in the right direction each day.

• Refocusing on what is most important in my life.

  I want to have deep meaningful relationships with God, Jason, our kids, family, and friends.  I want to love myself more and criticize myself less.  To focus less on STUFF which means I need to LET IT GO!  Decluttering my life of the unimportant to focus on the most important.

 How do you get yourself back into a routine after summer?